Mechanistic Empirical Evaluation Of The Mn Road Low Volume Road Test Sections

Download or read book Mechanistic-empirical Evaluation of the Mn/Road Low Volume Road Test Sections written by Navneet Garg and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study utilized I DOT mechanistic-empirical (M-E) procedures and Mn/ROAD low-volume road (LVR) data and information to verify/refine/modify analysis and design concepts and procedures for L VR flexible pavements. The Mn/ROAD L VR flexible pavements include conventional flexible, full-depth asphalt, surface-treatment and aggregate-surface sections. Laboratory test results, field distress measurements, and FWD test data were used to study the affect of granular material quality on pavement performance and deflection response. The results from the rapid shear tests, permanent deformation tests and field rutting measurements show that granular material rutting potential can be characterized by a rapid shear triaxial test at 15-psi confining pressure. For conventional flexible pavements, granular material quality did not affect the pavement deflection response, but material quality effects were significant for aggregate-surface and surface-treatment pavements. ILLI-PAVE predicted pavement responses were fairly accurate for sections with thicker asphalt concrete surfaces. The FWD deflection basin parameter AUPP (Area Under Pavement Profile) can be used to predict the strains at the bottom of AC layer. Effect of subgrade type on pavement response and performance was studied. Sandy subgrades showed little or no change in pavement structural response due to spring-thaw effects. For the cohesive subgrade sections, moisture changes and spring-thaw effects increased surface deflections. The study showed that the lOOT LVR flexible pavement mechanistic-empirical design concepts and procedures are valid and adequate.